Republican senator removes provocative social media entries linked to Minnesota shootings incidents
Unfiltered, Raw Take:
Senator Mike Lee caught heat for some insensitive social media posts following the bloody rampage in Minnesota. The contentious senator from Utah sparked controversy when he speculated about the shooter's political leanings on X, suggesting "This is what happens when Marxists can't get their way." He even chucked a jab at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, dubbing it "Nightmare on Waltz Street."
By Tuesday afternoon, those controversial posts had vanished from Lee's X profile. CNN made attempts to contact his office, but still await a response.
Lee's inflammatory comments were particularly offensive in the wake of attacks that targeted Minnesota state representatives and their families, causing concerns about lawmaker safety. Democratic Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota had a confrontation with Lee about his irresponsible rhetoric on Monday.
"I called him out for being brutal and cruel. He needs to think about the consequences of his remarks," Smith said Monday evening. "It just serves to intensify this hatred and misinformation."
Both Democratic senators of Minnesota were relieved that Lee deleted his incendiary social media posts but still expressed concerns about the escalating political rhetoric. Smith suggested more apologies were in order.
"I'm glad I could discuss the matter with him face-to-face. I'm also pleased he took down the posts. However, I haven't heard if he regrets his actions," Smith told reporters, also mentioning her hope to hear Lee's thoughts on the families of the victims.
When queried about whether Lee mentioned in their Monday conversation that he would remove the posts, Smith replied, "No, he didn't mention that. I think he listened to me; I'd say he was surprised by the confrontation."
Senator Amy Klobuchar echoed her fellow Minnesota Democrat, stating she was "thrilled that he took it down." According to Klobuchar's office, she and Lee had a constructive conversation Tuesday morning.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer weighed in as well, suggesting that the violence didn't occur by chance and criticized the inflammatory remarks from some hard-right figures. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut added to the criticism, suggesting that the MAGA rhetoric fuels political violence. Despite not naming Lee, it was clear he was a primary target of Blumenthal's condemnation.
As reported by CNN, the shootings have rekindled the ongoing debate on how to secure the safety of the 535 US lawmakers and their families in a hostile political climate. The hitmen killed state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, while state Senator John Hoffman and his wife were injured. Authorities are still analyzing the motives behind the attack, with Governor Walz asserting that it was a "politically motivated assassination." The suspect had an extensive hit list of around 70 targets.
Asked about her security concerns in light of the shootings, Smith stated that "we're in a critical moment right now where the surge in political violence and politically motivated attacks is definitely concerning."
"It's hard to find a senator who hasn't received a death threat or serious threat, so the rise in hostility and violence is certainly concerning, and I'm worried about myself, my family, my colleagues, and my staff in Minnesota," she continued.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN's Manu Raju and Alison Main contributed to this report.
- In the aftermath of the violent incident in Minnesota, Senator Mike Lee's comments about the shooter's political leanings, along with his criticism of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, have ignited a debate within policy-and-legislation circles, as concerns about the effects of incendiary rhetoric on general-news and crime-and-justice issues arise.
- The controversy surrounding Senator Mike Lee's insensitive social media posts, which sparked controversy by speculating about the shooter's political leanings and adding a jab at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, has received widespread attention in politics, leading to discussions on the escalating political rhetoric and its potential impact on lawmaker safety.
